Here's a compilation of the top 10 bizarre quotes from Pakistan Cricket Board Chairmen over the years.

by Saj Saqid (3rd July 2013)

Over the years the Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman has been a rich source of entertainment for the cricketing fraternity. Many quotes attributed to the Chairmen have been lapped up by the media and cricket lovers. From General Tauqir Zia to the unforgettable Ijaz Butt and more recently the latest incumbent Najam Sethi have all made statements that have either been bewildering, mystifying or at times just ridiculous.

Here's a compilation of the top 10 bizarre quotes from Pakistan Cricket Board Chairmen over the years.


1. The all time "classic" from Ijaz Butt where soon after the spot fixing scandal of 2010, he alleged that English players were also involved in fixing

“There is loud and clear talk in the bookie's circles that some English players were paid enormous amounts of money to lose the match. No wonder there was a total collapse of the English side.”

Soon after Butt made an apology to the ECB and to the England players.


2. Ijaz Butt getting his IPLs and his Champions League tournaments mixed up

"I have already spoken to Lalit Modi about this and there is no chance of any team from Pakistan playing in the Champions League this year. After the way our players were treated [in the IPL auction] I don't see our players or teams taking part in the Champions League this year." 

3 months later Ijaz Butt denied that he had spoken about the Champions League

"Those comments of mine were about the IPL and our participation in that event and not at all about the Champions League. I had said our players would not be in the IPL because of what had happened at the auction. I did not say that our domestic teams would not go to the Champions League. Why would I deprive them of that opportunity? My comments were misinterpreted." 


3. Najam Sethi gets his 4 man and 5 man Committees all mixed up

"A four man committee has been set up to investigate and possibly reduce Mohammad Amir's 5 year ban."

In fact a 5 man Committee had been set up by the ICC not to look at Amir's ban, rather, to look at relaxing some conditions imposed on him such as using PCB practice facilities. 


4. Ijaz Butt on former Pakistan head coach Geoff Lawson

“Lawson is a useless man. But there is no use removing him now and we will allow him to complete his contract, which will not be renewed. “We will suffer a huge financial loss if we terminate his contract now."

3 days later, Lawson was sacked 


5. Ijaz Butt on four young players Crying to him about Shahid Afridi's captaincy

"One day 4 young players came to me and said we want to talk to you. Why are you going back to Pakistan? I told them I am not feeling well and that is why I am going back, after which these 4 youngsters claimed that my presence on the tour had made Afridi's body language much better than it was, now neither does he abuse us in the ground nor does he say bad things to us in the dressing room. On hearing this I told the kids "Do not worry I will make everything fine. All the four youngsters started crying and saying that please do not go back to Pakistan."

Whilst there were alleged tears from the youngsters, it was Afridi who had the last laugh as Butt was eventually replaced as Chairman.


6. Dr Nasim Ashraf was less than impressed with Kamran Akmal's wicket keeping in June 2011

A leaked report quoted Ashraf as saying.

"The wicket keeping was pathetic, especially after Kamran Akmal dropped the catch and pretended that he had held on to it. This is unsporting behaviour but perhaps one has to give him the benefit of the doubt as he may not have realised that the ball had slipped out from his hand, which was picked up by the cameras. I do not want such behaviour from any Pakistani player. Please warn everyone! We ought to be looking at playing another keeper."

The cricketer once again had the last laugh though as Ashraf was replaced and Kamran Akmal continues to be in and around the Pakistan squads.


7. Tauqir Zia on why as Chairman he had not imposed tougher actions on players following the Qayyum report

"When I looked at the Qayyum report, I thought of removing all the offending players from Pakistan cricket. I went to the President of Pakistan to say "Look, I do not know much about Pakistan cricket because I’ve just worked there for three or four months. If you ask me, I’d like to get rid of all these characters. He asked ‘do you have the backup squad?’"

Subsequently under Zia's tenure as Chairman, a "soft" approach was administered on most of the big name cricketers mentioned in the Qayyum report after the President's suggestion of a lack of back up players to replace the offenders. 


8. Only days into the job and Najam Sethi has a second entry into the 10 most bizarre statements by a PCB Chairman. This time Sethi suggests that Mohammad Amir may have had more leniency shown if he had a white lawyer representing him in the UK.

“We will hire a white lawyer in the UK, since they react to our skin colour, to look at the anti-corruption laws and look at ways to get at least 20% relief for Mohammad Amir.”

The law is the law Mr Sethi, irrespective of whether you have a white, brown, or green lawyer.


9. Ijaz Butt labels as Bulls**t Shoaib Akhtar's jibes at Tendulkar and Dravid in his book 


"We are trying so hard to bridge the gap with India. In these times such Bulls**t is totally uncalled for. He ( Shoaib Akhtar) is talking nonsense and should be rebuffed by the people of India. We will give an official statement, on Saturday, saying everything that he has said in his book is bulls**t. There is not an iota of truth in it. He has caused us enough trouble as a player and the misery continues even now."

Akhtar's book was lapped up by the world's media particularly in India where he appeared on many TV shows. Ijaz Butt's autobiography can be purchased at all well known book stalls in Karachi and Lahore for 3 rupees.


10. Ijaz Butt calls for Capital Punishment for Shane Warne after the leg spinner's correct prediction of a tied match between India and England

"Warne’s act was a surprising one and the matter should be raised before the International Cricket Council. He took a harsh stance and said that Warne should be hanged over defaming cricket and ICC."

Warne's innocent prediction was taken a little too seriously by Ijaz Butt & his suggestion for Warne to be hung was treated with the distain it deserved.


Long live the PCB Chairman, may you continue to provide us with statements that make us laugh, almost bring us to tears and make us hold our head in our hands.

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